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Post Info TOPIC: dual axle versus single axle
koalaboy


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dual axle versus single axle
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Hi can you tell me the advantages and disadvantages of a single axle and dual axle caravan both about 17foot thanks

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cliff
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HI koalaboy i went from single to double( I )  found that

  it is easier to reverse   end of van does not move out as

 much when turning  carry more in van. a bit more stable when

  parked .extra weight of van was not a factor 

                  suenray



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Landfall


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Single axle easier to move about it tight spaces/areas.

17'6" would be the maximum length for a single axle though.

 

Ken



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aussie_paul


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koalaboy wrote:

Hi can you tell me the advantages and disadvantages of a single axle and dual axle caravan both about 17foot thanks

 http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t56853007/single-axle-or-dual-axle/

 

Aussie Paul. smile



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Peter_n_Margaret


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Landfall wrote:

17'6" would be the maximum length for a single axle though.

 Why do you say that?

I owned a glider trailer for many years that was 10M long. It was single axle. There is no problem finding wheels, axles, tyres and brakes to carry in excess of 3T on a single axle.

Any one who goes bush seriously would only ever consider a single axle.

 

Cheers,

Peter



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Aus-Kiwi


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A glider trailer o
Is designed for length and not a hell of weight...
Horse floats , caravans and car trailers  are more compact ..
Much more stable with duel axle on the black top than single axle..
Where a single may have advantage in what Pete referred too..
Real rough terrain ..



-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Monday 19th of May 2014 07:13:30 PM

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Aus-Kiwi wrote:

A glider trailer o
Is designed for length and not a hell of weight...
 

 2T

 

I believe the apparent stability of dual axles is an illusion.

They will want to stay in a straight line, but once "upset", will continue off line with avengeance.

 

Cheers,

Peter



-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 01:45:07 AM

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Landfall


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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Landfall wrote:

17'6" would be the maximum length for a single axle though.

 Why do you say that?

I owned a glider trailer for many years that was 10M long. It was single axle. There is no problem finding wheels, axles, tyres and brakes to carry in excess of 3T on a single axle.

Any one who goes bush seriously would only ever consider a single axle.

 

Cheers,

Peter

 Silly me, and I thought I was on a caravan forum?????

Must check my Google search engine and see if it sent me to a glider forum instead.

I guess there is one in every paddock.

Am I also to unserstand that they go bush with there glider trailer? I'd like to see that.

 

Ken

 

 



-- Edited by Landfall on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 08:30:54 PM

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Radar


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 hi

I own a single axle just under 2 tonne caravan 200kg ball weight behind a Land rover Discovery  soon to be a crew cab ute yes I can talk from experience we also have spent the time weighing the lot on a approve weigh bridge, I don,t drive road trains but have been in the transport industry for 45 years, yes 45 years only. My set up is very stable in our travels off about 20 000k,s of travel in the last 3 years and more to come.

My choice in other circumstance would of been to buy a dual axle caravan but I purchased this caravan for weekend use only to do trips of around 300k,s max but life changers now seing us have done 5 000k,s in 2 months.

Our van is I believe at the max 17'6 long or 3 metres behind the axle, plenty of generous ammount of room to move and store inside. No onsuite but we do store a porta potti under the bed. We mix between caravan parks and freedom camps and carry a portable shower set up.

Dual axle would give you better braking but would scrub harder on corners and parking also allowing you to have a full combo shower/toilet set up.

As for add and dis with this size van it would be personal but any larger or smaller would be a totally different. Smaller would not need it for various reasons mostly weight. Anything heavier would need to be looked at very serious for weight reasons.

My axle is rated at 3 000tonnes, wheels and tyres 2 400kg,s plus but you are getting towards the max. remembering that the tyres are good for 160k's with max. load, I drive mostly at 90k's. pretty safe the chassis is good for 2 tonnes.

We do enjoy our van and it was purchased on colour not for tech. reason how dumb. I hope this helps and it was written between glasses of a very good red. 

For what it,s worth 2 friends have brought single axle vans for serious off road use/ some breach driving. With the view I getting lost in WA but that could be extreme use. Cheers or heres to you.



-- Edited by Radar on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 09:47:46 PM

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Landfall wrote:

 Silly me, and I thought I was on a caravan forum?????

Must check my Google search engine and see if it sent me to a glider forum instead.

I guess there is one in every paddock.

Am I also to unserstand that they go bush with there glider trailer? I'd like to see that.

 

 Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but since you ask, it matters not what is inside the "box".

And yes, glider trailers regularly finish up driving cross country across paddocks to retrieve the out-landed aircraft.

 

Cheers,

Peter



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Peter_n_Margaret


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Radar wrote:

Our van is I believe at the max 17'6 long or 3 metres behind the axle,.....snip....

 The maximum rear overhang (behind the centre of the axle group) is 3.7M.

 

Cheers,

Peter



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Aus-Kiwi


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The length of the glider trailer gives it stability !! Not the single axle..
You wont get a caravan the length of a glider trailer with single axle..

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Aus-Kiwi wrote:

The length of the glider trailer gives it stability !! Not the single axle..
 

 I fear that you are quite wrong with that.

Increasing length increases yaw inertia which is the enemy of stability and why semis have the hitch over or in front of the axle.

 

Cheers,

Peter



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Bryan


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Some of the british imports like Swift have 20 footers on a single axle.

 

I'm no expert. Just saying, that's all.



-- Edited by Bryan on Saturday 24th of May 2014 09:46:26 AM

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Bryan
Vic41


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Just an observation (please don't shoot the messenger, I am no expert on double or single axle) but in media reports on caravan accidents I have noticed from the photo's in these articles that most seem to be double axle vans ? 

Is this just coincidence or are there more double axles on the road?

 

 

 

 



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Aus-Kiwi


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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Aus-Kiwi wrote:

The length of the glider trailer gives it stability !! Not the single axle..
 

 I fear that you are quite wrong with that.

Increasing length increases yaw inertia which is the enemy of stability and why semis have the hitch over or in front of the axle.

 

Cheers,

Peter

They have duel axles too .. 



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